Supported by the Wellcome Trust, the national INSPIRE scheme aims to encourage medical and dental students to participate in research.
Bristol is one of the universities chosen to design and deliver both local and regional activities (in partnership with medical schools in Cardiff, Exeter and Plymouth) across a wide range of scientific disciplines.
Funding was originally awarded in 2013 and over the past two years Bristol has supported 24 vacation studentships and a range of prize awards for the best research projects, as well as providing research ‘taster’ opportunities for 180 students.
The University of Bristol has been awarded a further £10,000 from the AMS and the Wellcome Trust to extend its programme of INSPIRE activities over the next two years. This has been generously matched by the contributions from the Deans of both faculties along with the Elizabeth Blackwell Institute to a total of £35,000. In addition to being able to continue with the current INSPIRE scheme, the University has added new initiatives to its portfolio, including:
- the student-led, research-focused eMagazine;
- a national intercalators’ research conference to run in October each year;
- research skills workshops; and
- a similar new scheme targeted at veterinary students (who were involved in the first INSPIRE programme in the country, led by Professor Linda Wooldridge).
The Bristol programme is led by Dr Tony Pickering, Wellcome Senior Clinical Fellow in the School of Physiology and Pharmacology, along with student representatives from the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry.
To find out more and to get involved, please contact tony.pickering@bristol.ac.uk.